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How is soap made from fats and oils?
Soap making involves the hydrolysis of a triglyceride (fat or oil) using an alkaline solution usually lye, chemical name sodium hydroxide. Triglycerides are typically triesters consisting of 3 long-chain aliphatic carboxylic acid chains appended to a single glycerol molecule (see Equation 1).
Do liquid and solid fats made into soap differ?
Solid fats tend to make hard bars Solid fats are the ones that are generally solid at room temperature like coconut oil, palm kernel oil, or animal fats like lard and tallow. Most liquid oils won’t make a solid bar of soap and need to be combined with a solid fat to make a decent, usable bar.
Is animal fat used in soap?
Many throughout history have used animal fat, also called tallow, to make soap. When animal fat is mixed with an alkali substance, it can produce sodium, magnesium, or potassium tallowate. All three types of salt are used as soaps. However, you can still find soaps made from animal fat, called tallow soaps.
What types of fats can be used in making soap?
Animal fat tallows from cows, such as lard, are often used for soap making as are palm, olive and coconut oils. Coconut oil makes the soaps smell nice and makes them creamy.
What happens when a fatty acid is reacted with NaOH?
What happens when a fatty acid is reacted with NaOH? Saponification. Salts of fatty acids are created as well as glycerol. Saponification occurs when a fat is heated with a strong base such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to give glycerol and the sodium salts of the fatty acids, which is soap.
Is soap made from pig fat?
In fact, lard has long been used as a base for soap and pomade, Tangney said. The fat actually ends up making the bar dense, long-lasting and moisturizing, Tangney said. “It’s a great soap,” he said, adding that it’s from pigs that are grass-fed and free-range. “It’s soft on your skin.”
What does oil do in soap?
It’s a thick oil that moisturizes the skin and creates creamy lather. Compared to pomace, pure olive oil creates softer bars and takes longer to trace. It can be used up to 100% in cold process. Palm oil adds a unique feeling to cold process soap.
What’s the difference between animal fats and vegetable oils?
For soap making, glycerin is not removed from the soap mixture. What is the main difference between soaps made from animal fats and plant oils? Animal fats typically create a harder bar of soap that may or may not be beneficial to your skin. Vegetable oils produce soap that is generally softer and gentler to the skin.
Why are vegetable and animal fats used in soap making?
Answer: Animal fats typically create a harder bar of soap that may or may not be beneficial to your skin. Vegetable oils produce soap that is generally softer and gentler to the skin. There are exemptions of course. Coconut and Palm Kernel Oils produce soap that is hard and can be drying to the skin.
How long does it take to make vegetable oil soap?
Artisan soap makers often mix animal fat with vegetable oil for a complex soap that cleans well and is gentle on the body. It can take 20-30 minutes for the ad to appear on the page.
Why are plant oils used in soap making?
They are considered the good fats that the body requires. When used as a soap ingredient, plant oils are good moisturizers and are gentle on sensitive skin. If other emollients are added, it creates a richly fatted soap that makes more lather and lasts longer.